The Peterson Group LLC: Leadership is Never Based on Position

It is a common misconception that if a person is higher in rank than the others, he is already considered the leader of the pact. Even managers have this kind of mindset.

Well, fact is, they will not be somehow on that spot if they had not shown leadership streaks, will they? After all, famous author and speaker, John Maxwell has defined leadership as having the competence to exude influence on others, thus gaining the chance to outstand over their peers. Perhaps influence means having to step up the ladder with the help of back up?

However, in his review, Prof. Mel Holcom of Arizona State University clearly states that “the first thing to realize is that taking advantage of a leadership opportunity does not necessarily mean moving up the career ladder.”

How then do we define leadership? And who are those worthy of being called a leader if it is not based on rank or position?

The Peterson Group, a leadership development and organizational consulting firm, states that you do not necessarily have to be an official to be a leader. Leadership goes more than a position or authority. The key is demonstrating relationship skills and, as Maxwell has emphasized, influence.

Setting up a good relationship among your colleagues is an important factor in being a leader, even if you are in the same level with them in a team. It is a big deal among human beings to know there is a person who understands them or someone they can go to when they need it. People can also instinctively know if you are being a fraud through your actions or being true in your intentions. The real emphasis on the C’s (charisma, character, commitment, courage and communication) amounts to the level of relationship you have built with other people, not with how many people are under you.

Influence, on the other hand, is a crucial element in leadership. Leadership can never exist without influence. Influence is not on how many influential people can back you up and get you on top of the pyramid; it is on how many people are willing to give you the position because they know you deserve it.

On a healthy debate held for leadership development among students in Jakarta, Indonesia, reasons for being a leader without holding a position was brought to light. Among the most essential characteristics aside from the aforementioned are initiative, discernment, generosity and focus, characteristics which does not necessarily require rank or position.

Mossack Fonseca: BVI Financial Services on New Website & Social Media

The BVI Financial Services Implementation Unit (FSIU) is using their new website and social media pages to “inform, educate and engage the population on the subject of financial services”, according to a BVI press release on November 18, 2015.

On the website, BVI Forward Campaign, visitors will have immediate access to the report of the financial services consultancy, the ten priority initiatives being pursued as part of the campaign, as well as the latest industry and campaign related news. The website will also feature continuous messages from various spokespersons including industry executives, senior industry professionals, and others.

The FSIU has also created the following web pages to share actionable information about financial services and their current efforts to strengthen the industry:

Director of the FSIU, Mr. Kedrick Malone said “The BVI Forward campaign relies heavily on our website and social media because young people are part of a key demographic we need to engage on financial services. We have targeted information for various age groups and inclusive of all forms of media but we will focus extensively on digital and social media simply because of the pervasive influence among persons in that age category”.

Mossack Fonseca on China & Switzerland: Begin Direct Currency Trading

Monday, November 9th, 2015

With the authorization of the People's Bank of China, the China Foreign Exchange Trade System (CFETS) announced that beginning November 10, 2015 they will launch direct trading between the yuan, also known as the renminbi (RMB), and the Swiss Franc (CHF) on the inter-bank foreign exchange market.

China is seeking to promote its yuan as a global reserve currency alongside the dollar, an ambition that depends on its willingness and ability to loosen tight restrictions on the currency's trade.

One major step towards achieving Beijing's goal is convincing the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to include the yuan in its internal "special drawing rights" reserve currency basket. The IMF is expected to make its decision regarding the yuan in the near future.

“This is an important step in strengthening bilateral economic and trade connections between China and Switzerland,” the People’s Bank of China said in a statement on its website. The link will help lower conversion costs and facilitate the use of both currencies in bilateral trade, it added.

The yuan can only move up or down two percent against the US dollar from a mid-rate set daily by the central bank. The Swiss franc will be allowed to fluctuate five percent on either side of a central rate, the CEFTS’s statement said.

The NeXT Career Consulting Group Asia: Switching Careers

Having been in your current job for the past few years, you have come to the realization that your career progress with your employer is somewhat limited -both sideways and upwards. You then decide to consider looking to see what is out there in the job market. In addition to the vacancies posted in the media, you realize that your contacts are somewhat limited, and networking has not been an activity that you have been spending too much time and efforts on. You read somewhere that "networking' is the most effective method of job search, but alas a bit too late. No worries, we are here to potentially help you. If you are keen to discuss further and realize the potential, give us a ring at Tel (65) 6323 6626 or e-mail clementong@nextcareer.net to set up a non-obligatory exploratory meeting.